Harambee Stars coach Stanly Okumbi (left) and FKF chairman Nick Mwendwa (right). Reports indicate Okumbi will be demoted soon. [Photo/goal.com]
Stanley Okumbi’s reign as National Soccer team Harambee Stars coach may be nearing an end.
Nation Sport reports that Football Kenya Federation (FKF) leadership is working round the clock to unveil a new Harambee Stars coach in time for the start of the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Senior Challenge Cup.
Kenya will host the tournament from December 3, to December 17, 2017. What is curious though is the fact that Okumbi is yet to name a team to represent Kenya in the tourney, less than three weeks before CECAFA kicks off.
According to Nation Sport, Multiple sources within FKF say two Belgian coaches are being lined up to replace coach Okumbi. The two are former Harambee Stars coach Adel Amrouche, and former Burkina Faso head coach Paul Put.
Amrouche is fondly remembered by fans after guiding Harambee Stars to CECAFA glory in Nairobi in 2013. Paul Put led Burkina Faso to the Africa Cup of Nations final in South Africa in 2013, where the Stallions lost to Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Stanly Okumbi was appointed Stars coach in March 2016, shortly after the current FKF officials led by Chairman Nick Mwendwa were elected into office in February 2013.
He has overseen a number of disappointing results among them the home and away losses to lowly Guinea Bissau in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Reports indicate the former Kariobangi Sharks coach will be demoted to Harambee Stars assistant coach.